Combined spring-gear and dampener.



.posts E28 and friction blocks 30. `the frontfollower 2'? andintermediate folany suitable means, such as the tie-plate 39.

ln assembling the gear and dampener, the springs 2,5 are first placedbetween the followers :23 and 2l, after which the friction blocks areapplied laterally over the foilowers Z3 and Then the wedge member 33 isapplied, then the spring land finally the front follower 27. W ith theparts thiis asse-ii'ibled, it is apparent that the entire structure maybe inserted ii'ert-ieall)y within the arms of the horizontal yoke, andall the parts there supported by the tie-plates 2li and l ln operation.iipon inward movement of the draw bar, ii: is apparent that the frictionblocks 3() are held stationarywand conse quently as the front follower'.27 and intermediate follower 2l with its post 28 iii-ove in iifardly,the friction between the blocks 30' and .said posts will be graduallyaugmented due to the graduallyv increased pressure'of the spring l5against the wedge member The main springs of the gear 25 will be comfpressed in the usual manner and the parts limited in their iiioi'einent'by engagement of the follower 2l with the inward extensions 3S of thefriction bloelis. Upon release or recoil, it is apparent that movementofthe parts will be retarded diie to the frictiona-l action which occursbetwifeii the In draft,

lower remain stationary,while the rear Afollower :23 moves :forwardlyvand at the -lsiine time forces the friction fblocks 30 forwardly, thus(.btaining similar action be tween the blocks() and the post From thepreceding description, it. will be seen that l have provided a springgear of highcapacity which is aiiginenteil bvthe frictional arrangement,the latter also serving effectively to dampen recoil. Farther more, theparts are so arranged that they niav be readily assembled anddisassembled and the gear and dampener inserted into position withoutdisturbing the yoke or draw bar. i'

I claim: v

1. In mechanism of the character described, the combination withthreefollowers, of stops for two of said followers, f

springs between a spring between andthe third follower, and frictionelements operatively' connected with said liest named pair of fol namedspring to retard relative movement between the first named pair offollowers.

2. In a draft rigging, the combination with a spring gear, of a springdanipener, the dampener and gear being simultaneously operable, andmeans. operatively connecting said gear and kdarei;

pair of said followers, a

The front follower 2? is siip one ofsaid pair of followers v lowers andacted upon by the last ner and including an meneer extension .from onefollowerl of the spring gear forming tinelement of the spring damplener.

3. In a draft rigging, the combination with a springr gear, of aspringkdaiiipeiier operable simultaneously with th'egearfand means foroperatively associating said gear and dampener, one element of thespring daiiipener having an extension disposed between the followers ofthe spring gear to act as a limiting stop for the latter.

l.- `ln a draft rigging, the combination with a spring dampenercomprising a pair of' followers having a iixed relation, blocksfrielionally engaging a portion of one of said folloii'ers, a wedgemeii'iber co-acting with said blocks, and a spring coperable with saidwedge member, of a third follower, connections between said thirdfollower and said blocks, and cushioning means between the last namedfollower and one of the followers of the daiiipenei.

5. ln a draft rigging, the combination with ay spi-ingrdempenercomprising apair of followers having a fixed relation, blocksfretio'nally enga-ging a portion of one of said followers, a wedgemember co-acting with said blocks, and a springcoperable with said wedgemember, of a third follower, connections between said third follower andsaid blocks, cushioningl means between the last named follower and oneof the followers of the' dampener, and extensions from the frictionblocks disposed between the last named followers and adapted to limitrelative-approach thereof.

l. ln a draft rigging, the combination with front and rear stop members,vof end followers inoperable with said Stop'. members, an intermediatefollower having a. post extending therefrom to one of theend followers,friction blocks eoperablewith said posi, said blocks having wedge faces,a sprliig-controlled wedge member coperable with said ii'edg'e blocks,cushioninglmeans located between said intermediate follower and theother end follower, and connections between the last mentioned followerand' said blocks. l'. ln a draft rigging, the combinatun with a twinspring gear inclndinga pairof folli'niers. of a third follower, athriisbmem ber extending from the last named follower to one of thefollowers of the I inea-ns, including spring controlled frictionelements coperable with said thrust member, for danipening the recoil'ofthe spring gear. /H i, I 8. ln a draft rigging, the combination withfront and rear stop members, of a front follower,y an intermediatefollower, a rea follower, a. kthrust member extending between theintermediate followerend one of the endy followers, friction blocksoooperable with seid thrust member, said friction filmke.;

gear,4 .ami

meneer with two end followers and on intermediateollower, of stopscoperalole with the end followers, e post exendmg lfron'itlieintermedmte follower to the front end follower,

friction blocks coperolole with seid. poeti seid riction blocks' havingfirms extending rearwardly ond recessed to accommodate the intermediatefollower and the rear end fol lower, a spring controlled wedgememiaercooperable with seid friction blocks, and cushioning means interposedbetween the intermediate follower and the rear end follower.

l0. lin e draft rigging, the combination with two end followers and enintermediate followerj of sops coperelole with the end followers, a poseextending from Jche intermediate follower to the front end follower,friction blocks coperable with said post, said friction blocks havingarms extending rearwardly and recessed to accommodate the intermediatefollower and the rear end follower'-, o spring controlledwedge memberco- Aoperalole with said friction blocks, and

cushioning means interposed between the termediate follower and the'rear end ol lower, said rearwardly extended arms of the friction blockshaving inward extensions disposed between Ehe intermediate end rearfollower adapted to eci/'as limiting stops to limit the relativeapproach of said followers.

in witness that. I clim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 24th day of J an., 1917.

Witness JOSEPH HARRIS.

